Pay raises at the top

Published: Sunday, October 13, 2013 at 6:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Friday, October 11, 2013 at 5:16 p.m.

Turns out what’s good for the goose isn’t always good — or, at least, available — for the gander.

Remember all those County Commission budget hearings where commissioners said over and over that there just wasn’t money in the budget this year to give pay raises to county employees?

Well, guess who got a pay raise? Surprise, the County Commission.

Good for them. Lucky them. I bet it felt pretty good when they got an email from county clerk David Ellspermann last week telling them the state had raised their annual pay from $75,626 to $78,519, an increase of $2,893 a year, 3.8 percent.

Now to be fair, the commissioners had nothing to do with their raise. State law sets commissioners’ salaries — as well as those of the School Board and constitutional officers (yes, they all got raises, too) — based on population, and apparently Marion County’s population has risen enough to warrant more money for our elected pols.

Of course, the commission doesn’t have to accept the raise, or more to the point the commission doesn’t have to accept the level of pay it does, which is roughly 2½ times that of the average Marion County worker. No, there is a state law, passed in 2011, that allows an elected board like our County Commission to lower their pay, if they so choose. Clearly, our commissioners do not so choose — and why would they, it’s a pretty sweet gig with sweet perks and bennies.

Of course, based on the conversation about the pay raise at the Oct. 1 County Commission meeting — if you want to call it a conversation — I think the commissioners would rather not talk about it.

No one mentioned the pay raise until Commissioner David Moore brought it up during the “Commissioner Comments” portion of the meeting. Moore, who is obviously new to this game, said he did not feel comfortable getting a raise when other county employees had not received one in years. He said he wanted to donate his pay hike to the county’s “Employee Morale Fund.” He challenged his fellow commissioners to do the same.

Moore’s beneficence was greeted by his fellow commissioners with ... stone cold silence.

Ironically, Commissioners Stan McClain and Kathy Bryant used their time to talk about how appreciative they are of all the hard work and dedication shown by county employees.

When a citizen later suggested the commissioners could generate “almost a million dollars” if they donated the next two years of their salaries — it’s more like $630,000 — Bryant respond:

“I don’t know how I’m going to pay my bills if I don’t have any kind of salary coming in.”

Is this your only job? the citizen asked. “Right now, it is,” Bryant replied, adding defiantly “it’s more than a full-time job.”

With a pretty good, full-tme paycheck that comes complete with full-time benefits — and regular raises that other county employees don’t get.

Great gig, for sure. A full-time one, though, Commissioner? Debatable.

<p>Turns out what's good for the goose isn't always good — or, at least, available — for the gander.</p><p>Remember all those County Commission budget hearings where commissioners said over and over that there just wasn't money in the budget this year to give pay raises to county employees?</p><p>Well, guess who got a pay raise? Surprise, the County Commission.</p><p>Good for them. Lucky them. I bet it felt pretty good when they got an email from county clerk David Ellspermann last week telling them the state had raised their annual pay from $75,626 to $78,519, an increase of $2,893 a year, 3.8 percent.</p><p>Now to be fair, the commissioners had nothing to do with their raise. State law sets commissioners' salaries — as well as those of the School Board and constitutional officers (yes, they all got raises, too) — based on population, and apparently Marion County's population has risen enough to warrant more money for our elected pols.</p><p>Of course, the commission doesn't have to accept the raise, or more to the point the commission doesn't have to accept the level of pay it does, which is roughly 2½ times that of the average Marion County worker. No, there is a state law, passed in 2011, that allows an elected board like our County Commission to lower their pay, if they so choose. Clearly, our commissioners do not so choose — and why would they, it's a pretty sweet gig with sweet perks and bennies.</p><p>Of course, based on the conversation about the pay raise at the Oct. 1 County Commission meeting — if you want to call it a conversation — I think the commissioners would rather not talk about it.</p><p>No one mentioned the pay raise until Commissioner David Moore brought it up during the “Commissioner Comments” portion of the meeting. Moore, who is obviously new to this game, said he did not feel comfortable getting a raise when other county employees had not received one in years. He said he wanted to donate his pay hike to the county's “Employee Morale Fund.” He challenged his fellow commissioners to do the same.</p><p>Moore's beneficence was greeted by his fellow commissioners with ... stone cold silence.</p><p>Ironically, Commissioners Stan McClain and Kathy Bryant used their time to talk about how appreciative they are of all the hard work and dedication shown by county employees.</p><p>When a citizen later suggested the commissioners could generate “almost a million dollars” if they donated the next two years of their salaries — it's more like $630,000 — Bryant respond:</p><p>“I don't know how I'm going to pay my bills if I don't have any kind of salary coming in.”</p><p>Is this your only job? the citizen asked. “Right now, it is,” Bryant replied, adding defiantly “it's more than a full-time job.”</p><p>With a pretty good, full-tme paycheck that comes complete with full-time benefits — and regular raises that other county employees don't get.</p><p>Great gig, for sure. A full-time one, though, Commissioner? Debatable.</p>